Maerklin/Trix Wheel List – Sep 2014

The desire to run Maerklin, Trix and other manufacturers’ rolling stock together has been somewhat complicated because of the AC and DC nature of these two companies’ systems. The problem has been partially alleviated by making AC or DC exchange wheels available for the rolling stock by these two and other manufacturers. Further assistance to the hobbyist also has evolved as most manufacturers now standardize on NEM 352 coupler pockets on their rolling stock, permitting the user to use the coupler type of one’s choice throughout a collection. This listing will hopefully assist in understanding specifically the wide variety of Maerklin and Trix AC and DC wheel sets that have been offered over the last 25 years. By the beginning of this century following the Maerklin/Trix merger, however, confusion occurs in understanding sometimes whether a Maerklin or a Trix wheel set is required for a particular car as the same numbers for some wheel sets have appeared in latter day catalogs attributed to either manufacturer without apparent rhyme or reason. Occasionally, through the years there also have been errors in Trix catalogs and new items flyers, where instead of an AC wheel set number appearing for a Trix car, a DC wheel set number appeared adding to the confusion. Similar situations have also occurred in Maerklin catalogs (i.e., AC wheel set number erroneously being provided, supposedly for a DC wheel set.). Sources for review have included the internet, in addition to Maerklin and Trix catalogs. Hopefully, it will be useful for future reference for us hobbyists.

A. Maerklin AC Wheel list

This list shows Marklin product number, and other details, e.g., diameter across tread, length of axle, and wheel type where known. Note that in some later Trix catalogs, the Maerklin AC wheel catalog numbers are portrayed diversely, which may add some confusion to issue, e.g., Maerklin AC disc wheels with number 70 0150 may appear alternatively as 70 0150, 700150, or 700 150.

70 0200: Wheel Dia: 10 mm. Axle Length: 24.1 mm Design: Disc, shoulder axle, with smaller diameter axle end than shaft between the wheels. Used on “billboard” refer cars, such as beer cars and similar G and G10-type box cars with or without brake houses. DC equivalent is 70 0270.

Some of the 70 0XX series numbers were renumbered as 70 0xX0 series by the mid- to late-1990s. Many of the DC wheels recommended in the Maerklin catalogs from approximately 2000 are actually Trix DC wheels and may be found in the Trix listing found below. Both listings should be checked for appropriate wheel types. For example, 32 3760 04 wheel sets are recommended variously for both Era I cars shown with spoked wheels, and Era II cars shown with disc wheels that are shown in the catalogs. Some of the DC wheel set numbers that are recommended for various Era I and Era II freight and passenger cars in catalogs from 2000 onwards are for disc-type wheels, while the catalog shows spoked wheels on these cars.

32 3760 04 – DC disc wheel set with shoulder axle. Used with two-axle “Insider” modern refrigerator car (48150) in 2006, modern design beer cars, tank cars, and also on DB former Bavarian passenger cars (Trix designs), and small number of other freight cars. Direct equivalent to 60 1151.

60 1151 – Disc wheel set for NS Railways double tank car set (48542) of 1997/1998, and later similar tank cars in sets and limited number of other freight carts. Used on Bavarian Gas cars. Also used on Gas car set 46600 of 1999. Direct equivalent number is 32 3760 04 according to Maerklin 2005 New items flyer.

60 1329 – Disc wheel set for four-axle double truck tank car.

70 027 – Wheel Dia: 10 mm. Axle Length: 24.1 mm Design: Disc, shoulder axle, with smaller diameter axle end than shaft between the wheels. Used on “billboard” refer cars, such as beer cars and similar G and G10-type box cars with or without brake houses.

Trix HO began clearly listing alternative HO AC, Maerklin and Trix Express wheel sets for its rolling stock in its 1999 ,,Neuheiten” flyer. Earlier, a comparative listing of wheel set types was carried in the accessories section of their catalogs, but the alternatives were somewhat cryptically identified with their various rolling stock types through a coding scheme in addition to the catalog number for the types of AC or Trix Express wheel sets. In their main catalog for 2000/2001 Trix began changing earlier numbers for some of their wheel sets, e.g, 66693, became 36 6693 00. To add to some of the confusion, some of the same DC wheel set numbers in the Maerklin catalogs have been identified as Trix DC wheel sets, and in later catalogs as Maerklin DC wheel sets. This presumably resulted from the merger of Maerklin and Trix in the late 1990s. In some cases each company has issued the same cars but with DC or AC wheels commensurate with their brand. Following the Maerklin/Trix merger, when these two manufacturers issued the same types of cars in sets,they would issue them often with different running numbers and identify the specific types of AC or DC wheel sets required according to brand when required for the operator. An example of this practice is seen with Maerklin’s Era I Bavarian Gas Car set #46600, and Trix’s same car set as #23915, but with each set produced with different running numbers. As with Maerklin, Trix may refer to its AC wheel sets diversely, e.g., one can find AC wheel set number 34 2012 11 in another catalog rendered as 34 301 211 or 34301211. Likewise AC wheel set number 31 1029 for use with “Schnabel” type 24-axle cars has been alternatively listed as 03 1102 9 and 0311029.

Specifically identified for Trix Frieght Car Set #24016, in their ”Fire and Water” theme in their 2002 and 2008 catalogs . The set had two slag ladle cars, and two crude iron ladle cars in the set with replacement AC wheel trucks listed:

8 Responses to Maerklin/Trix Wheel List – Sep 2014

My thanks to Roman Plascewski of Reynauld’s Euro Imports. He has identified the wheel set listed as XX XXXX in the AC wheel section as #34 3012 11 – This wheel set is the shoulder axle version of 20 4748, with all metal, fine double-spoked wheels. He also identified the DC wheel set equivalent as is #32 3012 11,found in the DC wheel section. Thank You Roman…

I’m following kitbashing instructions to convert an ac Marklyn TEE set M# 3071 into the dc northlander. The old instructions call for Northwest Shorline wheels 053-71184 & 053-71314, which I can’t find.
The ac wheels are pressfitted to the axle, instructions say I will have to retrofit the NW shorline wheels to the axle reusing most of the geared wheelset. No quick easy conversion.
Marklyn doesn’t make the dc kit for my model, is there a trix wheel set I can pull the insulated wheels and fit to the existing axles? Then I can worry about creating pickups later.
The diameter of the AC wheels riding surface is 12mm. The side flange is 15mm. Again, just need a DC equivelant.
Any thoughts would be welcomed

Chris – I wrote an article for the BLOG back in 2014 that addresses Maerklin/Trix wheels and their equivalents. Please look on the right hand side of the blog listing and go to Archives – Accessories. You will find the article under the latter category. Don’t know if this will help you or not, but the list provides pretty extensive coverage of the different types of Maerklin/Trix wheels. The listing, however, doesn’t relate to comparing Maerklin/Trix wheels with those of other manufacturers.